Congress issues show cause notice to MLA for praising Gujarat CM

Ahmedabad, Mar 23: Congress has issued a show cause notice to its MLA who praised Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel by issuing advertisements in local newspapers, party sources said on Monday.

Gyasuddin Sheikh, a Congress MLA representing Dariapur constituency of the city had issued advertisements in various newspapers yesterday, praising the BJP CM.

"The Congress Legislature Party chief whip has issued a show cause notice to Sheikh asking him to reply within five days on why action should not be taken against him for breaching party discipline," a Congress leader said.

A notice issued by Congress Legislature Party chief whip Balwantsinh Rajput read, "Your action of issuing advertisements praising the party in power has hurt sentiments in Congress party and also damaged the party's reputation."

Sheikh also confirmed that he had received the show cause notice and would reply to it.

The newspaper advertisement, which carried a photo of the chief minister, congratulated her, besides Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel as well as Minister of State for Health Shankar Chowdhary for announcing Rs 2 lakh as medical assistance in case of serious illness related to heart, kidney and cancer to families whose income is lower than Rs 1.20 lakh per year.

The advertisement said the health scheme would benefit three crore people in Gujarat and lauded Patel for launching the scheme.

However, Congress sources said that they were unhappy with Sheikh and that there was no need to issue advertisements in newspapers praising the Gujarat Chief Minister.

"He could have simply written a letter of appreciation to her. What was the need to issue newspaper advertisements," a Congress leader said on the condition of anonymity.